Tiffany Proffitt, DO
Herbal supplements are everywhere—and so are the bold claims that come with them. From tea tree oil to echinacea to zinc, they’re often marketed as natural cures for everything from acne to the common cold. But how much of it actually holds up?
If you’ve ever worked an ED at 3 AM during a holiday weekend, you know what’s coming: a patient visiting from out of town presents with a radiology report that is positive for a DVT. With no hematology or cardiology consults available, no access to the patient’s records, and the clock ticking, you’re left to manage the situation.
We’ve all done it—given patients the standard advice to “increase your daily fiber intake” without a second thought. After all, it seems like a simple, harmless suggestion, right? But what does it actually mean to crank up the fiber, and when should you rethink the recommendation?
Just because it’s over the counter doesn’t make it safe.